Medical Library Association | Resources : National Medical Librarians Month (NMLM)

National Medical Librarians Month (NMLM)

Use the season to promote your event. Host a Halloween or autumn-themed event. Create a computer banner in autumn or Halloween colors, using this year's NMLM theme, "Saddled with health questions? We can round up answers" Visit your local party store for decorations and sesonal treats. Play off of this year's theme by incorporating a western feel to your celebration. Attach information about your library or a particular service you provide to the goodies.

If you work in a hospital library, insert a "free information" coupon into patient admission packets with the help of your hospital's admissions office like the staff of theCommunity Health Education Center, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. The staff color-coded the coupons for inpatients and outpatients.

Change individual and general library voice mail greetings to begin with �October is National Medical Librarians Month� or "Happy National Medical Librarians Month."

Invite your institution's staff to your library for an open house. The open house can be held all day long or during specific times. Offer refreshments, tours of the library, computer demonstrations, welcome or parting gifts, scavenger hunts, or a raffle.

Distribute a flyer with Internet search tips. You could also include a list of Websites that may be of interest to patients or the general public (e.g., PubMed). As always, direct users to your library for more information.

Follow the lead of the staff at the National Electronic Library for Health, Birmingham, UK, who used their institution's internal mail system to send all departments an attractive brochure about the library.

Updated your library's Website or created a new one? Publicize your efforts with a flyer or brochure or open house event at your library. Send an email to the faculty or staff at your institution directing them to your site.

Host a surefire crowd-getter: a book fair. Invite patrons to a book fair in honor of NMLM. Give away duplicate and older editions of books the library no longer needs.

Have Halloween treats waiting for your patrons during your library's "fine free week" in honor of NMLM. This will invite patrons into the library and allow you to recover long-overdue books.

Create an attractively designed "Did you know�" flyer about your library. Distribute the flyer throughout your institution or attach them to goodie bags filled with treats like the staff at the Virginia Funkhouser Health Sciences Library, previous winners of the Creative Promotions Award

In your library's newsletter, focus a special issue on your library and staff and the work that you do. Place copies in your library, clinic, waiting rooms, pharmacy, or a public area glass display case. Direct the public to the library for more information.

If your library does not have its own newsletter or pamphlet, create your own one-page, double-sided newsletter or pamphlet to distribute throughout your institution. Don�t forget to include your contact information.

Display a jar of candy on your front desk or in a prominent spot in your institution with a sign that reads "Informaton Saves Lives." Ask patrons to guess the number of pieces of candy in the jar and award a prize for the closest guess. Place a bookmark or brochure about your library next to the display. The Southeastern New York Library Resources Council, Highland, NY made the suggestion in a NMLM calendar for hospital librarians in the area.

Continually remind your audiences of your library by creating something they will use repeatedly like a bookmark or a brochure listing your library's services, location, and hours. List helpful Websites or tips on searching for information on your brochure or bookmark. Also, use the items to promote NMLM or any of your library's upcoming special events.

Conduct a tour and then host a continental breakfast or lunch-time reception in your library. Invite administrators and others to stop by for coffee. Talk to them about the services you provide and also about their information needs.

Invite your university or hospital�s public relations department to your upcoming NMLM events. Let them know that there will be many photo opportunities for their publications.
Check with your local paper to see if they have calendar notices for upcoming events in the community. Find out what the deadline is then issue a news release or letter in time�usually three to six weeks in advance.

Write a short article about the library and its staff. Mention your services and the help you provide to the community. Send the release and any photos of your library staff at work to your institution's public relations office or to your local newspaper's features editor.

Create a display entitled, "Who's Behind the Desk," with photos and interesting facts about the staff. This will allow patrons to get to know the library staff and feel more at ease when visiting the library.

Place a "Suggestions and Comments" bulletin board with Post-it® notes or paper and pins in high traffic areas in your institution or library. Invite library patrons to offer their advice or suggestions for improving the library.
Continue to bring attention to your library after October by celebrating other national observances. Hopwood Library/UPMC Shadyside celebrated National Nutrition Month in March by handing out heart-healthy recipe cards with their library information on the front.